From the Googles and the Bings it looks like it started in 2012. I can't find a picture of any 2011 vintage with the printing, they've all got the blue label. Oh god you're not actually looking for the exact hour of the exact day now are ya?
I believe it's just for the 2012 year...I read something about the 150th anniversary beer (a Tripel, I believe) being ridiculously difficult to get ahold of, and they put this (much more widely distributed) offering out as a sort of keepsake for those who didn't get the special brew. Stupid me, before I found this out, I didn't read the label closely, and thought this WAS the special brew, and I gladly paid the $14.99 price tag (it was this price at several places around town, right next to the regular Grande Reserve). The price increase is dumb, but the beer is absolutely stunning. I forgot, spending the last few years seeking more popular, 'hyped' beers, just how good this is.
Sounds like the packaging change is a way to increase the price with less notice. Right now Chimay Grand Reserve runs around $13-14 a bottle around here. I also remember when it sold for $8-9 per 750. It's making that 3l bottle I paid $65 for seem like a better deal every time the price goes up.
I was told by a knowledgable beer store owner that this new label is actually a tweaked version of regular Grande Reserve, done in collaboration with some other monks. No idea if this is legit. But I'm a big Chimay fanboy, so I bought one at a relatively high price and didn't think twice about paying $28 for the 150th anniversary beer either.
The 2012 printed Grand Reserve bottles are right next to the standard blue-label bottles on the shelf where I work. As far as I have been able to work out, they are exactly the same beer with a ~$5 difference in price.
It's the same beer, but every 2 years they are going to use a different label. At least that is what I remember hearing while I was in their tasting room, as they wanted to make some diffrent bottles for collectors. Here is a photo, not of very good quality, showing the 2010 & 2012 Grand Reserve bottles. Yes you will see see the same beer in the traditional "Blue" label as well in 2010 & 2012. Now if you can resist, age this bottle for about 16 years for a special treat. Cheers Mike
